Nitrogen budget determination in the Hackensack meadowlands estuary

Abstract A study has been conducted on a selected wetlands portion of the Hackensack Meadowlands estuary during a peak marsh productivity period in order to quantify the extent to which such wetlands may serve to reduce the nitrogen nutrient load of the tidal waters which twice daily flood over its surface. Total export and import to the selected area was measured over a full tidal cycle. A nitrogen uptake of 5.45% is found. In addition, temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity was also monitored.